Cheptegei took the lead in the beginning of the race and he saw his pacers drop off early so he had to run the second part of the race alone. Cheptegei managed to hold his pace and continued to race towards the finish line. After having won:

“After 10km I was above the schedule of the world record so I decided to accelerate at 12km. The last kilometer was hard but I really enjoyed. I am very proud of my achievement and want to thank the organization and my team”. Cheptegei said shortly after crossing the finish line. Joshua Cheptegei won the Seven Hills races 4 times in a row.

On the womens side Stella Chesang, the Commonwealth Champion on the 10,000m won the race in a fast time of 47:19.

The exciting announcement was made by the Local Organising Committee alongside the IAAF in Doha today with going live online for the first time at 16:00 local Doha time on the official championships website.

The 17th edition of the IAAF World Athletics Championships is set to take the sport towards a new future by inspiring new fans, new athletes and new audiences of all ages and interests with a host of innovations, including a revamped competition schedule to create more intense action in single evening sessions and a new range of ticketing options.

And with 45 weeks to go momentum is building. Since revealing to the world the state-of-the-art Khalifa International Stadium and showcasing the revolutionary in-stadium air-conditioning technology during the 1 year to go celebrations in September, organisers have received registrations of interest from literally all corners of the world. Fans as far and wide as Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cameroon, Chile, South Africa to Sri Lanka and as close to Doha as Azerbaijan, Jordan, Syria and Tunisia, have all sought ticket information and registered for tickets.

With tickets now on sale, excitement for the first World Athletics Championship to be staged in the Middle East is expected to spread even further. Avid athletics fans can select from an array of options which allow them to follow their champion, sit in traditional Arab cushioned Majlis seating or choose finish line seats. Whilst for those new to athletics, affordable taster options have been made available to purchase. Family and group discounts are also on offer for those looking to attend with their families or groups of friends or colleagues from work.

Notable ticket offerings now available include:

Price for individual ticket – day by day:

Category A - Open seating: 60.00 QAR (14 Euro)

Follow Your Champion A- Allocated seating: 150.00 QAR (35 Euro)

Follow Your Champions B- Allocated seating: 120.00 QAR (28 Euro)

Finish Line- Allocated seating: 300.00 QAR (71 Euro)

Ticket Packages:

Family Package: 2 Adults (Full Price) + 2 Children from age 2-12 (-25%)

Today’s launch marks exactly 320 days to go to the start of the championships, and Qatar is ready to host the biggest sporting event in the nation and region’s history by considering every option to engage fans.

This latest milestone of tickets going on sale is a further example of the innovative approach and ambitions of both the IAAF and the Local Organising Committee to connect the world of athletics to new horizons and new opportunities.

Speaking at the launch event of the World Championships Doha 2019, Vice Chairman and Director General of the Local Organising Committee and Vice President of the IAAF, Dahlan Al Hamad, said:

“Today is another positive step forward for athletics and further proof of Qatar’s commitment to welcome the world to Doha. As the pricing and flexible ticket offerings show, our approach is simple. We want to make it as easy and enjoyable for as many people as possible to be our guests. We want people from all corners of the world to come and experience the warmth of our hospitality, our world-class facilities and our pleasant September climate. We want fans to witness the best athletes on the planet compete head to head over 10 dramatic days of competition but and, at the same time, get to know the people and the real Qatar. A young, ambitious, safe and progressive nation.”

In the coming months, the Local Organising Committee will move forward in the next phase of its preparations and outreach programme by finalising full travel packages to Doha, including flights, hotels and transfers. The official championship travel packages are expected to be launched during January 2019. With direct flights from over 110 destinations, a simple visa process plus a stadium that is located centrally, only 15 minutes from Doha’s downtown area of West Bay, expectations are high for inbound travelling fans and families.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe added: “Going live with tickets is a big moment in any major championship and the Doha Organising Committee has worked hard to create an event that suits its climate, is fun and exciting for fans with some innovations and flair and provides optimal conditions for the athletes to excel.

“Athletics is looking ahead. We have a new country and new innovations ready to embrace new fans and new opportunities with new formats and ticket options as part of a global event. Whether it is Doha, Tokyo, Nanjing or Eugene, we are looking at our sport with a fresh perspective and fresh eyes. For Doha 2019, we have a trusted partner that is as willing to be creative and bold. And the nation’s track record in our sport is further commitment that they share our vision to grow the sport. The IAAF has hosted events in Qatar for the last 21 years, so we know the people and the country, and we hope the world of athletics gets to know them too.”

To date, much of the fan and media interest has already focused on the first-ever midnight marathon along Doha’s beautiful corniche and a first 4x400m mixed relay in an IAAF World Championships, each designed to maximise fan entertainment and global reach. The programme will replace morning sessions with split evening sessions. One-hour intervals will be incorporated into each session to combine entertainment and family-centred activities with the excitement of the competitive action.

Al Hamad continued: “As highlighted in September with our 1 year to go celebrations, our stadium is complete and the infrastructure ready. With 45 weeks to go everything is now in place to guarantee the best possible experience for the 3,500 athletes and officials from more than 200 nations. But equally important is the fan experience and the memories we create for those attending. A world-class stadium needs a vibrant atmosphere. Athletes need to feed off that energy. Beyond the physical infrastructure, the welcome from the host nation and the excitement in the stadium, that is what people remember most. This will be our focus and we will work with our partners and the IAAF to inspire and welcome as many fans as possible from our own community and beyond.”

Preparations at every level are moving forward with Doha continuing to further establish itself as sporting capital and Middle Eastern home for athletics in the countdown to IAAF’s flagship event. Multiple world championships over the past decade have taken place in Doha including swimming, handball, boxing and IPC athletics. In recent weeks, Doha has added to that list by successfully staging the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.

Immediately following the ticket launch event, the planning and testing will continue with site visits and workshops for the World Broadcast Media. Looking further ahead into 2019, Doha is preparing to host the IAAF council meeting in March, the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships in April 2019, the official test event for the World Championships and the IAAF Diamond League meeting in May.

Desisa held off fellow Ethiopian, 22-year-old Shura Kitata, by two hundredths of a second to finish in 2:05:59. It was his first victory in New York and fourth podium appearance. He already had two Boston Marathon titles to his name.

“This is my dream to be champion in New York,” Desisa said. “I’ve participated here four times, and I’ve tried very hard to become the champion.”

Kitata was second in 2:06:01 – his second runner-up appearance in an Abbott World Marathon Majors race this year – and last year’s champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya was third in 2:06.26.

Keitany became the second woman to win in New York four times, recording the second-fastest time ever in event history with a 2:22:48. It was her fourth win in five years, and she’s now the only woman other than Grete Waitz to win the event four times. Her training partner, Vivian Cheruiyot, was second 2:26:02.

“I was able to run a very nice race,” Keitany said. “I was just thinking of trying to win, but not actually the course record. But I came to see that I missed just by 70 seconds. But for me, winning was the most important.”

Last year’s champion Shalane Flanagan was the first of four American women to finish in the top seven, placing third in 2:26:22, which was 31 seconds faster than last year. Molly Huddle was fourth in 2:26:44 – a personal best in her third career marathon – while this year’s Boston Marathon champion Des Linden was sixth in 2:27:51. Allie Kieffer recorded her second consecutive top-10 finish in the event in 2:28:12 to take seventh.

Earlier in the day, Romanchuk broke the tape in the men’s wheelchair division in 1:36:21. It marked his second Abbott World Marathon Majors race victory, coming less than a month after he won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

“It's an amazing experience to be able to win two major marathons in a row,” Romanchuk said. “It still hasn't sunk in yet.”

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug, a three-time winner in New York City, fell short of defending his title, finishing second in 1:36:22. Great Britain’s David Weir, racing the event for the first time since winning in 2010, was third in 1:36:23.

Schär became just the fourth women’s wheelchair athlete to win back-to-back titles, claiming her second consecutive title at the TCS New York City Marathon in 1:50:27. It marked her third consecutive Abbott World Marathon Majors race victory in Series XII, having already won in Berlin in September and in Chicago in October.

“I just gave everything I had left for that pretty little downhill in the park, and I was actually finally able to get away a little bit,” Schär “I still can't believe it was enough.”

Five-time race winner and NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador Tatyana McFadden was second in 1:50:48, and the reigning Paralympic marathon champion Zou Lihong of China was third in 1:56:14.

Romanchuk and McFadden both earned bonus points on the Abbott World Marathon Majors leaderboard by being the first wheelchair athletes to pass the 20K mark – part of the new bonus points sprint competition for Series XII.

The TCS New York City Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series made up of the world’s six largest and most renowned road races – the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, Bank of America Chicago, and TCS New York City Marathons. Points are allocated to the top five finishers in each race, with the top three men’s and women’s finishers in both the open and wheelchair divisions earning prize money.

About the TCS New York City Marathon

The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world and the signature event of New York Road Runners (NYRR), the world’s premier community running organization. The race is held annually on the first Sunday of November and includes over 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to runners of all ages and abilities, including over 9,000 charity runners. Participants from approximately 140 countries tour the diverse neighborhoods of New York City’s five boroughs—Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Race morning also features the Rising New York Road Runners Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon, a race within Central Park that finishes at the same finish line being crossed hours later by the marathon field. More than one million spectators and 10,000 volunteers line the city’s streets in support of the runners, while millions more watch the globally televised broadcast. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization, is the premier partner of NYRR and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. The 48th running of the TCS New York City Marathon is set for November 4, 2018. To learn more, visit www.tcsnycmarathon.org.

]]>chuck@runningnetwork.com (Super User)MarathonsMon, 05 Nov 2018 18:15:27 +0000Five-Time Olympian Bernard Lagat to Make Marathon Debut in Talented Men’s Professional Athlete Field at TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/993-five-time-olympian-bernard-lagat-to-make-marathon-debut-in-talented-men-s-professional-athlete-field-at-tcs-new-york-city-marathon-on-sunday-november-4
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/993-five-time-olympian-bernard-lagat-to-make-marathon-debut-in-talented-men-s-professional-athlete-field-at-tcs-new-york-city-marathon-on-sunday-november-4

Australia’s Kurt Fearnley will look for a record sixth New York City Marathon title in the men’s wheelchair division, joining previously announced defending champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland and past champions David Weir of Great Britain and Ernst van Dyk of South Africa in a field that includes 14 Paralympians and eight Abbott World Marathon Majors race winners.

“This year’s TCS New York City Marathon professional men’s fields will provide an impressive mix of veterans and young up-and-comers,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for NYRR and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “With a long history at our races in New York, both Bernard and Kurt will be looking to add to their list of remarkable accomplishments. Bernard is ready to test out new grounds by taking on the marathon distance, and Kurt is set to go after an unmatched sixth title. Both the open and wheelchair divisions on the men’s side are chocked full of storylines, bringing international talent from every corner of the globe to the world’s largest marathon right here in the five boroughs.”

Lagat, 43, has competed at every summer Olympics on the track since the Sydney 2000 Games, winning silver and bronze over 1500 meters in 2004 and 2000, respectively, when representing Kenya. He became a U.S. citizen in 2004 and began racing for Team USA the following year. In 2007, he became the first American to win an outdoor world championship gold medal over 1500 meters, making it the first Olympic or world championship gold in the event for the U.S. at the time since 1908, and followed that up with another gold over 5000 meters. In 2012, Lagat finished fourth in the 5000-meter race at the London Olympics, crossing the line 1.33 seconds behind Mo Farah after being tripped during the race. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, he was the oldest member of the U.S. track and field team at age 41, finishing fifth in the 5000-meter final. He has 11 world championship medals to his name in the 1500, 3000, and 5000-meter distances, including five golds. He is also the American record-holder in all three distances.

Fearnley, 37, has won a record five New York City Marathon titles, including four consecutive from 2006 to 2009, and his event-record time of 1:29:22 from 2006 still stands. He has captured 13 individual medals across five Paralympic Games, including silver in the marathon and bronze in the 5000 meters at the Rio 2016 Games where he served as Australia’s co-captain. Fearnley has won two Paralympic marathon gold medals, two IPC Athletics World Championship marathon golds, and marathon races in London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seoul, Rome, Paris, Sydney, and Port Elizabeth.

Quotes from top professional men racing the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon:

“I first competed in New York City in 2001 at the Millrose Games, and fell in love with the city on that trip. I’ve been back again and again, and now have eight Wanamaker Mile titles, five podium finishes at the Fifth Avenue Mile, and I set the U.S. 5000-meter indoor record there. A few years ago, I was able to watch the TCS New York City Marathon from one of the lead vehicles, and I knew that when I ran a marathon someday, I wanted it to be in New York. I’m so excited to return for this new challenge and hope to continue the success I’ve had there.”

-Bernard Lagat

“For 16 years New York City has been like a second home to me, and it’s where I’ve had some of the best races of my career. I’ve been training hard for this race in the mountains of Flagstaff with my friends Bernard (Lagat) and Juan Luis (Barrios), and we’re ready to put it all out there on November 4. May the best man win, baby.”

-Abdi Abdirahman

“Many people were surprised by my runner-up result in London in April, but I wasn’t. I am excited to run on the New York City course, where I hope I will join the names of the great Ethiopian marathon runners that came before me. My coach has a great history in New York, and he will have me ready for the course and the competition.”

-Shura Kitata

“The New York City Marathon has been a highlight of my year since I got my first start in 2005. I feel incredibly privileged to have won this race five times. Those wins are a jewel in my career. I’m always excited to be back on the TCS New York City Marathon start line. With the field as strong as I have ever seen it, a sixth win will be more challenging than ever, but always in the back of my mind.”

-Kurt Fearnley

Top Professional Men – Open Division

Name

Personal Best

Twitter

Abdi Abdirahman, USA

2:08:56

@abdi_runs

Juan Luis Barrios, MEX

2:10:55

@juanlbarrios

Shadrack Biwott, USA

2:12:01

@skiptoob

Ryan Blood, USA

Debut

@rblood13

Florent Caelen, BEL

2:12:51

Mizael Carrera, PUR

2:21:50

@MizCarrera

Andrew Davies, GBR

2:15:11

@fellrunningandy

Chris Derrick, USA

2:12:50

@CDerrickRun

Lelisa Desisa, ETH

2:04:45

@LelisaDesisa

Scott Fauble, USA

2:12:35

@scottfaubs

Senbeto Geneti Guteta, ETH

2:11:12

Nicholas Hilton, USA

2:16:20

@nackhilton

Geoffrey Kamworor, KEN

2:06:12

@kipsangkamworor

Birhanu Dare Kemal, ETH

2:12:21

Shura Kitata, ETH

2:04:49

@ShuraKitata

Bernard Lagat, USA

Debut

@lagat1500

Eric Loeffler, USA

2:16:50

@EricLoeffler262

Jonny Mellor, GBR

2:12:57

@jonnymellor9

Alex Monroe, USA

Debut

@alexmonroe10

Harbert Okuti, UGA

2:17:30

Tim Ritchie, USA

2:11:55

@TimRitchieWTD

Alphonce Simbu, TAN

2:09:10

Scott Smith, USA

2:12:21

@scott_n_ready

Festus Talam, KEN

2:06:13

Fikadu Girma Teferi, ETH

2:09:34

Chris Thompson, GBR

2:11:19

@Thommo10K

Tamirat Tola, ETH

2:04:06

Daniel Wanjiru, KEN

2:05:21

@DanielWanjiru13

Jared Ward, USA

2:11:30

@jwardy21

Top Professional Men – Wheelchair Division

Name

Personal Best Marathon

Twitter

Rafael Botello, ESP

1:22:09

@rafabotello79

Josh Cassidy, CAN

1:18:00

@JoshCassidy84

Kurt Fearnley, AUS

1:20:28

@kurtfearnley

Josh George, USA

1:21:47

@jsgeorge

Marcel Hug, SUI

1:18:04

@marcelerichug

Simon Lawson, GBR

1:25:06

@_SL74

Aaron Pike, USA

1:22:09

Daniel Romanchuk, USA

1:26:26

Brian Siemann, USA

1:26:46

@bsiemann

John Smith, GBR

1:31:44

Masazumi Soejima, JPN

1:18:50

Ernst van Dyk, RSA

1:18:04

@ErnstvanDyk

Sho Watanabe, JPN

1:26:22

David Weir, GBR

1:26:17

@davidweir2012

Hiroyuki Yamamoto, JPN

1:19:32

The TCS New York City Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series made up of the world’s six largest and most renowned road races – the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, Bank of America Chicago, and TCS New York City Marathons. Points are allocated to the top five finishers in each race, with the top three men’s and women’s finishers in both the open and wheelchair divisions earning prize money.

The 2018 TCS New York City Marathon will be televised live on Sunday, November 4, on WABC-TV, Channel 7 in the New York tristate area from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET, and for the rest of the nation on ESPN2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

About the TCS New York City Marathon

The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world and the signature event of New York Road Runners (NYRR), the world’s premier community running organization. The race is held annually on the first Sunday of November and includes over 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to runners of all ages and abilities, including over 9,000 charity runners. Participants from approximately 140 countries tour the diverse neighborhoods of New York City’s five boroughs—Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Race morning also features the Rising New York Road Runners Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon, a race within Central Park that finishes at the same finish line being crossed hours later by the marathon field. More than one million spectators and 10,000 volunteers line the city’s streets in support of the runners, while millions more watch the globally televised broadcast. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization, is the premier partner of NYRR and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. The 48th running of the TCS New York City Marathon is set for November 4, 2018. To learn more, visit www.tcsnycmarathon.org.

A World Record for Masters or Veteran Runners was broken when Mark Kiptoo finished sixth in 2:07:50, improving the men’s Over-40 record by 48 seconds. Arne Gabius showed strong form to finish ninth in a high-quality field when the 37-year-old crossed the line in 2:11:45, the fastest time by a German this year.

The top result of the day was achieved by the women’s winner as the 33-year-old Ethiopian Meskerem Assefa broke the course record with 2:20:36. That was 25 seconds faster than her compatriot Meselech Melkamu had run here in 2012.

In a women’s field which produced high-quality performances in depth, Haftamnesh Tesfay of Ethiopia ran 2:20:47 for second place, also faster than Melkamu’s former course record of 2:21:01. Ethiopia achieved a clean sweep of the women’s podium when Bedatu Hirpa crossed the line for third in the Festhalle in 2:21:32. The leading German finisher among the women was Katharina Heinig who finished impressively in 14th place, just inside 2:30. Her time of 2:29:55 was the second fastest by a German woman this year.

13,934 runners from 102 countries took part in this year’s Mainova Frankfurt Marathon and, taking into account participants in the various parallel events, 26,826 were running in total. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label race, the highest category in international road running.

Men’s Race

“We were delighted with the results, the fantastic atmosphere in the city and the number of participants,” said the race organiser Jo Schindler as he looked back on the day. The elite race director Christoph Kopp summed up the performances of the elite athletes: “We’ve shown the marathon world once again that you can run very fast here. I am delighted that the women’s course record has been broken.”

A big group of 12 men went through halfway in a speedy 62:27. The wind from the north-east favoured a fast early pace so that thoughts were soon turning to a time of 2:05 or even faster. As expected, the headwind from 27 kilometres onwards slowed the pace. Ethiopia’s Kelkile Gezahegn and the Kenyan Martin Kosgey, the runners-up in 2017 and 2016 respectively, launched an attack which broke up the leading group. Kenya’s Alex Kibet, making his marathon debut, then regained contact with this duo at 36 kilometres.

Three kilometres from the finish, Martin Kosgey went into the lead and Kibet dropped off the pace. Gezahegn remained and tracked Kosgey in what become a tactical finish, culminating in a sprint 500 metres from the line. Gezahegn attacked just before the entrance of the Festhalle, celebrating victory in 2:06:37 by four seconds ahead of Kosgey. Alex Kibet made an impressive marathon debut for third place in 2:07:09.

The 22-year-old Gezahegn had been hoping for a faster time but adjusted his plans to concentrate on victory: “I had said beforehand that I wanted to run 2:04 but then I realised it was getting tough for everyone. We weren’t going to run a super-fast time so I gave everything I had to win and it paid off. If I want to run in the Olympic Marathon, I still have a lot of work to do.” Martin Kosgey set a personal best with 2:06:41, finishing runner-up in Frankfurt for the second time after 2016. “I was very confident from the start. I thought I could beat Kelkile but this was still a better performance than two years ago.”

Women’s Race

When a big leading group of twelve runners passed the half way point in 69:55 it was obvious that something special was possible. The group was on course for sub 2:20 and although weather conditions were far from ideal the women kept their pace until late in the race. At 30 k their 1:39:30 split time still pointed to just below 2:20. It was only after this point when the group slowed slightly and some lost contact running into a headwind for several kilometres.

At 35 k there were still five runners in the leading group: Ethiopians Haftamnesh Tesfay, Bedatu Hirpa, Meskerem Assefa and Dera Dida as well as Betsy Saina. The Paris marathon champion from Kenya then struggled and finally finished eighth. Hirpa and Dida also dropped back while Tesfay and Assefa were now battling for victory. It was in the final kilometre when Assefa, who finished third in Frankfurt a year ago and had the advantage of knowing the course, moved ahead and build a decisive lead. „I did not really feel the wind,“ said Assefa after winning in 2:20:36. „I prepared for Frankfurt for five months because I wanted to run 2:22 and win the race. Now I had to run a little bit quicker for first place.“ Second placed Tesfay clocked 2:20:47 and also was inside the previous course record of 2:21:01. Without the wind the leading duo might well have broken 2:20 today.

With her winning time, which is also a personal best, Meskerem Assefa moved up to 13th in the world this year. Besides her four more athletes of the top ten ran personal records in Frankfurt. Seven runners finished inside 2:23 in Frankfurt’s women’s race, which is a record for a German marathon. This year only in Dubai there were seven women with sub 2:23 times.